PRISON officers' relatives have defended their £15,000 Christmas party at the taxpayer's expense.

Staff at the high security Frankland Prison, in Durham City, are to celebrate at the nearby Ramside Hall Hotel as a reward for gaining High Performing Prison status, one of only five jails in England and Wales to achieve it. The title brings with it extra cash.

To mark the status, governor Phil Copple decided to arrange the party.

Some staff members have spoken out anonymously against the decision, saying the money could be better spent. But the relative of one worker at the jail said the staff deserved the party.

She said: "I know how hard the staff work and how hard they have worked to get this fifth position.

"When you compare the amount of money going on this party with the weekly cost of keeping a prisoner there it puts it into perspective."

The wife of one officer said: "My husband has worked in the prison service for 16 years and this is the first time he has ever had anything like this.

"Any Christmas parties they have had, they have had to pay for themselves."

She added that not all the prison staff would be able to attend and the cost of the party might be lower than £15,000.